Martial Arts Disscussion

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by NorCal, Jun 7, 2011.

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  1. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    I began taking Akido when I was very young, transitioned into wrestling in Jr. High and High School, and I began taking Gracie Jiu Jitsu when I was on active duty. I have never taken a martial art that includes kicking/striking, and in a fight, I would assume just immediately take it to the ground.

    Unfortunately, I quit taking Jiu Jitsu about two years ago, but I've been feeling the "itch" to get back into it. I recently made an agreement with a friend of mine, a Akido/ Jiu Jitsu guy, who said he will allow me to use his Akido dojo if I teach him some wrestling to compliment his Jiu Jitsu. I've also been considering looking around for a Budo school or combat Judo.

    I haven't rolled in a long time, and I'm really looking forward to it. Something to switch up my cardio would be nice, I hit the gym 5 days a week and I run 3-4 times a week, but the cardio you get from rolling around is something you just can't simulate in any other activity I've done so far.
     
  2. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Cool. Who did you train GJJ under?
     
  3. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    I am a Black Belt in American Kenpo and I am just getting back into it after a prolonged absence. If you are looking for a striking art, I would suggest Kenpo or Kajukenbo. Kajukenbo is really cool if you can find it in your area which I am sure you can in CA. There is a large Judo and Jiu Jitsu component combined with karate, kenpo (Chinese boxing).

    I also took BJJ on active duty - were you in the Army? One my good friends in the Army was Matt Larsen who started the Modern Army Combatives Program. My platoon was doing BJJ in 1995 and had several Gracie seminars.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I know a little about martial arts but I've never studied/taken lessons, I just know something about the differences between the various styles. I have always assumed that a person who was small/light (like a woman) would be better off studying a striking style as opposed to a grappling style because of the basic weight disadvantage. From a self-defense perspective it has seemed to me that I'd be better off trying to punch/kick my way out rather than close quarters and let someone grab onto me. Do you guys think that might be generally true?
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Well, in contrast to all you grandmasters here, I started taking kempo lessons last week. I've been twice so far. My sons have studied there for a year and gotten a lot out of it, and they're having a "Dads are free in June!" special, so I let them suck me in... at least for this month.

    -=Steve=-
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I took Aikido for a while and the sensi said that women are "better" then men at Aikido when referring to beginners. Men try to rely too much on strenght rather then leverage. I am 6'2" and about 200 lbs (white belt/6th kyu in Aikido) and got tossed around pretty good by a girl that was about 5"3" and about 120 lbs (orange belt/4th Kyu)
     
  7. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Ground work is good, IN addition to meridian, pressure points striking. I have had endless discussions with some of my martial arts associates regarding the debate of "taking it to the ground". In the case of one attacker, it is ok to do that. In the case of multiple attackers, quick disabling strikes to to soft tissue/meridian areas is the way to go.

    I personally like to keep a grappler/wrestler off of me. This may involve biting, gouging, dim mak applications, etc.

    Keep up the good work!

    Abner :)
     
  8. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    Ralph Gracie
    UFC and Pride Fighting Championship.


    Professor Aparecido Faria Bill
    2 time world champion, and 5 time Brazilian champion.

    I know the Army (82nd Airborne, 101st Airborne) train in BJJ, but I was in the Air Force and Ralph Gracie had an academy about a mile off of our main gate. That is where I began taking BJJ and then after I got out I took a few years off before an new BJJ academy opened nearby and I started up again.

    I have another BJJ school run by a UFC fighter (I won't name) that is literally around the block from my house, but the UFC fighter is a con seeded prick and all his students train no gi and they area all a bunch of wannabe cage fighters. I like the discipline and respect of traditional BJJ, and I try to stay away from the cage fighting crowd as much as possible.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2011
  9. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Between your military hand to hand combat training and GJJ, Your pretty darn well covered. It is always good to cross train, I think it is fun and gives variety.

    I have found training in several different arts makes one understand the actual theory of movement as it applies to striking. For example:

    *whipping strikes
    *breaking strikes
    *snapping strikes
    *disruption strikes
    *vibrating strikes
    *tenderizing strikes, etc.

    Have fun!!!!!!!

    Abner :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2011
  10. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    There are different trains of thought regarding this argument depending on the discipline you study. Being wrestler in high school, BJJ was a natural progression for me and that is why I began studying it. BJJ was designed to be effective and used by your average everyday person. Japanese Jujitsu historically required that you to be very fit and strong, BJJ was designed by a guy who wanted to custom tailor it so it could be utilized by your average or smaller person, as he was bean pole and very skinny.

    Here is a quick history lesson about BJJ taken from the Ralph Gracie website:

    n 1914, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion Esai Maeda migrated to Brazil, where he was instrumental in establishing a Japanese immigrant community. His efforts were aided by Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian scholar and politician of Scottish descent. As an expression of his gratitude for Gracie’s assistance, Maeda taught the Brazilian’s oldest son Carlos the essential secrets of the ancient martial arts technique. Carlos taught Maeda’s techniques to his four brothers, and in 1925 they opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil. For the Gracie brothers, teaching the art was more than an occupation. It was their passion.

    One of the brothers, Helio Gracie, paid special interest to the use of the techniques. Helio being of small frame, light in weight (only 135 pounds), and in frail health, was 16 when he began learning Jiu-Jitsu.
     
  11. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Agreed. I won't lie, I watch the UFC when it is on tv, Strikeforce as well, but the majority of fans are raging, wannabe cage fighter d bags. The UFC had met and greet before their PPV here in Boston and the attendees caused a lot of trouble at the Prudential. I watched some dipshit kid that thought he was a hard ass get the crap beat out of him by some preppy, old money looking guy after starting the fight. Not going to lie, I laughed my ass off.

    I'm not familiar with Ralph Gracie but that entire family knows there stuff. I got to roll with Renzo Gracie once back in 2008. I worked at a film festival where his documentary was being aired and was invited to the new gym one of his students had opened in the area the following day. It was a humbling experience.
     
  12. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Maeda was the student of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. It would be more accurate to say he taught Helio Gracie Judo, since by the time he moved to Brazil, he had studied under Kano for some time. However, the Judo back in Maeda's time was more like modern BJJ, before all the rules came into play and Judo became a "sport." Maeda particularly liked "Kosen Judo", a style of Judo that was very heavy on ground work, no pins, no time limits, just chokes and joint locks.
     
  13. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    I meant Carlos. I always get the Gracie names confused.
     
  14. atrox79

    atrox79 Member

    I used to take Machado BJJ back in 2003-2005. I remember the instructor making us roll for an hour straight, going from partner to partner. I was so winded that I had my friend pull over on a freeway onramp as I vomited about a gallon of gatorade onto the side of my car. Then I went home and cleaned it with windex so my car was mostly dirty/dusty except for the passenger door which was sparkling clean & polished. We were white belts so we totally sucked and had to muscle our way through everything, which isn't the best for stamina.

    I'd like to still go but I have this umbilical hernia I need to take care of...I believe it developed in that class, actually. Rickson Gracie has his studio down the street from me.
     
  15. atrox79

    atrox79 Member

    You can usually spot the people who can't actually fight because they're all decked out it "Tapout" gear.
     
  16. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Oh man, my brother had umbilical hernia surgery last year. You might not want to wait to long to have that operated on.

    Abner
     
  17. atrox79

    atrox79 Member

    The hernia itself is actually really small & just at the top of the belly button. Doctors said it's not necessary to operate on it but there is another complication of something called a urachus cyst (or something), which kind of makes me want to fix it. It's more involved than just a straight hernia operation, though. I've always had an irrational phobia regarding my naval so I've been putting it off. Plus my insurance is Kaiser, which makes me want to go even less. You're right though, I need to just do it.
     
  18. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I actually have had Kaiser for several years as well. What I like about Kaiser is they are a true one stop shop. They have an inhouse pharmacy, labs, X-rays, CT scans, etc. all in one place. Kaiser has held good ratings for several years now.

    I went to the Kaiser ER for an appendectomy last month. I received great care from the minute I walked in. They even sent me a get well card!!!!!!

    Just do it!!!!!!!


    Abner :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2011
  19. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    Agreed. I like BJJ, but I avoid the MMA wannabe's. MMA is cool to watch, but most of those dudes I have come across are more interested in looking tough than respecting an art.
     
  20. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    You guys are on another planet. My instinct is *punch*punch*run* Strictly self-defense. I don't want to fight, I just want to stay safe. If I can create 15 feet of separation I can outrun most humans and I figure that's my best defense - RUN. I just need something to give me the separation. Grappling feels like it's going in the wrong direction for me. If some big strong guy gets his hands on me I'm not going to get away. I don't have the strength and I don't have the moves. I'm sure that some women have the moves but I gotta tell you, I'm not going to be able to train for two hours a day for the next five years to get to that level of proficiency. I just don't have that kind of time. I'd almost want to take some boxing lessons. Any boxers out there? I think it's funny that a lot of people don't think of boxing as a martial art. Like fencing. People don't think of fencing as a martial art either. Does this thread move into the area of fighting with weapons?
     

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